The Librarian's Notebook

Ask Mr. Librarian

A question about something written here, a correction, or something you think I should have read. It goes straight to my desk.

Sending shows a quick captcha to keep the robots out, then brings you back here. Nothing is posted publicly — messages go to my inbox and I read all of them.

What to expect

Ask me where a figure came from, why I weighted one source over another, to point me at something I have missed, or to tell me I have got a fact wrong — those last two are the most useful messages anyone sends.

Don't expect advice. Nothing on this site is professional advice of any kind and no reply from me will be either. A disagreement about an argument is welcome; a request to tell you what to do with your money, your health or your lawyer is one I will politely decline.